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Festivity
- Thanksgiving in Canada |
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Thanksgiving
is celebrated in Canada on the second
Monday in October. On January 31st, 1957,
it is proclaimed in Parliament that -"A Day
of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the
bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed
... to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.”
Remembrance Day (November
11th) and Thanksgiving Day kept falling in the
same week.
This is 6 weeks early than United States Thanksgiving
day because the harvest season falls earlier in
Canada compared to the United States due to the
fact that Canada is further north.
“Starting in 1879 (November 6th) Thanksgiving
Day was observed every year but the date was proclaimed
annually and changed year to year. The theme of
the Thanksgiving holiday also changed year to
year to reflect an important event to be thankful
for. In the early years it was for an abundant
harvest and occasionally for a special anniversary.”
The old practice was continued of fixing date
of Thanksgiving Day by proclamation, and it has
been since 1931 on the second Monday of October,
with the exception of 1935. There after, Thanksgiving
Day had been fixed on October 14; it was decided
to hold the general election on that date. A new
proclamation was issued deferring the observance
to October 24, a Thursday. This resulted in a
great deal of controversy and the practice of
observance on a Thursday was not pursued in future
years.
From 1936 onwards, proclamation was issued yearly
to appoint the second Monday of October as Thanksgiving
Day. In 1957, a proclamation was issued fixing
permanently Thanksgiving Day on that day, thus
eliminating the necessity of an annual proclamation.
"The Canadian Thanksgiving
Day came about because of a combination
of traditions. Before the first Europeans arrived
in North America, the farmers in Europe held celebrations
at harvest time. The farm workers filled a curved
goat's horn with
fruit and grain to give thanks for their harvest
having been a good one. This horn was called a
Horn of Plenty.....or
a Cornucopia, and
the farm workers who started a new life in Canada
took this tradition with them." |
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Both
Canadians and Americans celebrate Thanksgiving
with parades, family gatherings, pumpkin
pie, a lot of turkey and mashed potatoes.
It is also a time for gifting your family and
friends. Popular gifts
include thanksgiving flowers, jewelry, baked cookie
hampers, chocolate gift baskets, candy-wreaths,
wine etc.
Please note the date and plan your Thanksgiving
Holiday well in advance.
2008: Monday, Oct 13
2009: Monday, Oct 12
2010: Monday, Oct 11
2011: Monday, Oct 10
2012: Monday, Oct 8
2013: Monday, Oct 14
2014: Monday, Oct 13
2015: Monday, Oct 12
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